Chapter 50: Golden Dream
The so-called "Stone Platform" referred to the deep waters along the western coast of Damir, named after a naturally flat slab of rock nearby. Its depth, absence of reefs, and secluded position made it an ideal anchorage, often used by adventurers as a private harbor.
Enber and Xio hadn't waited long before spotting a twin-masted brig, about twenty meters long, sailing toward them. At the bow, Miss Gwen stood waving in greeting.
Without waiting for the ship's small boat to fetch them, Enber adjusted his cap, conjured a gale beneath his feet, and carried Xio with him onto the deck. Both landed gracefully.
"So, you're a Wind-blessed?" Gwen observed in awe, her respect deepening. Although she had seen Enber fight during the previous night's assault, the darkness had obscured much. Witnessing him "fly" dispelled her doubts.
Enber didn't correct her misconception. He was content to let the crew think so — both as a deterrent and to impress Gwen.
Today, Miss Gwen wore a white shirt and dark trousers beneath a black waistcoat, exuding a certain androgynous charm. It was practical, too. As a female captain without overwhelming strength — unlike a future "Admiral of Ailment" — she couldn't afford to stand out too much.
After exchanging brief greetings, Enber excused himself to a guest cabin, leaving Xio to chat with Gwen. He preferred solitude, needing time to think through the subtle clues he had pieced together since the attack on the port town.
So, it was the Aurora Order who breached the northern forest's seal, searching for something important… yet they found nothing. This reeks of a setup — a trap to pin blame on Aurora. And if my suspicions are correct, Admiral of Dusk's people were present in Damir that very night…
Memories from the novel surfaced in his mind. The Admiral of Dusk had only been briefly mentioned — aside from an unexpected clash with the Blood Admiral's fleet, her presence was little more than background.
Admiral of Dusk… "Dusk." Is it tied to the Twilight Giant, or certain indescribable organizations? Or perhaps both? It wouldn't surprise me if such groups had insiders among the churches' highest ranks… At that moment, Enber noticed his Student of Ratiocination digestion advancing rapidly.
"What's going on? Could reasoning about higher sequence entities aid in faster digestion?"
He rose in surprise. Having advanced to Sequence 8 via a characteristic, he had the full digestion of a Sequence 9 to work through. Yet now he estimated he might complete it within a week.
It's not just about high entities — it's about reasoned speculation backed by evidence. This feedback… Without my Pure White Eye, I wouldn't even glimpse traces of higher powers. And only under its concealment can I safely consider certain leads.
Realization dawned, and Enber sat back with a smile. This was the true advantage of his golden finger. Compared to Klein, who had once divined the Eternal Blazing Sun as a Sequence 9, his own method was relatively conservative.
---
Meanwhile, to the northwest of Damir Island, on a hidden isle, the Aurora Order's Messenger, Mr. D, glared coldly at a trembling pirate. His tone was calm, but his voice carried a deadly chill.
"So… you made a mistake?"
The pirate shook violently, barely able to speak. "We… made a mistake. It's not on Damir… It's on a smaller island southeast of it. I know the exact coordinates…"
"I'll give that little Einhorn whelp the benefit of the doubt this time. But if she's deceived me again, not even her noble Angel family or the Demigod behind her will shield her from the Aurora Order's retaliation."
After this icy warning, Mr. D turned to his companions.
"Take him with us. We're heading to this small island. Relay the news to Emmat Port. If we don't report back, assume it's Admiral of Dusk's doing."
"Yes, Messenger!" the members answered in unison.
---
On the afternoon of July 8th, Gwen's Aarunheim unfurled its sails, fleeing desperately across the waves. An hour earlier, a large three-masted steam-and-sail pirate ship had begun tailing them.
Being an old-fashioned brig, the Aarunheim couldn't hope to outpace the steam-powered vessel. Only the rumored Wind-blessed aboard kept the crew from despair.
"Who are these pirates? With so many Mandated Punishers patrolling near Damir, aren't they afraid of being caught?" Enber frowned. He wasn't too worried himself — even if the ship sank, he could escape underwater using his Sea Breeze Hat.
Still, with the enemy ship beyond his spell's range, there wasn't much he could do.
"Steamships like that are likely backed by a trading company. Only such firms would fund pirates to eliminate competition," Gwen replied bitterly. Nothing seemed to go right for her these days.
"Should we let them approach and fight them off in a boarding battle?" Xio asked.
"I don't want to risk it. If they open fire up close, the Aarunheim is finished," Gwen shook her head, disheartened. "Our only hope is for a church ship to pass by…"
Before she could finish, Enber's sharp eyes caught sight of the pirate ship slowing down.
"What's happening?"
Using a gust of wind to rise above the deck, Enber peered into the distance. A vast, brilliant beam of pure light shot from the horizon, piercing straight through the pirate vessel and leaving a gaping hole nearly five meters wide.
In the next instant, Gwen, Xio, and Enber watched in awe as a golden-sailed ship over thirty meters long surged toward them, gleaming under the sun.
"The Golden Dream…" Gwen whispered, mesmerized. Vice Admiral Iceberg was her idol, her goal.
The Golden Dream? And that was a Purification Cannon shot? The novel said it could only fire ten times before requiring a ritual of six Light Priests to recharge… For Vice Admiral Iceberg to expend a shot just to save us? Enber's thoughts spun. Could it be I've truly gained the Knowledge Church's favor?
Yet the Golden Dream did not stop. It sped northward, passing the Aarunheim without pause. Enber caught only a fleeting glance of curiosity from its deck before it disappeared from sight.
Onboard, Danitz asked in puzzlement, "Why go out of our way to destroy a pirate ship?"
Vice Admiral Iceberg only smiled knowingly. "This is the true purpose of our return. Besides, there's an Aurora Order vessel not far ahead."
---
Meanwhile, in Tingen City, Klein sat in the divination room, preparing a reading for a woman in a pale blue dress. Her demeanor was somber, her veil shading a face marked by worry.
"Hello, Mr. Moretti," she greeted softly as she sat.
"Good afternoon. May I ask your name?" Klein inquired politely, not expecting a real answer.
"You may call me Anna." Setting aside her veiled hat, she looked at him with mingled hope and doubt. "I want a reading on my fiancé. He went to the Southern Continent on business in March. On the 3rd of last month, he telegraphed me and his family that he was about to set sail home. But twenty days passed with no news. At first I thought it was just the Furious Sea's weather… but now, over a month has gone by. His ship, the Clover, docked in Emmat Port, yet not a word has come from any passenger."
Klein regarded his first true client as a diviner with cautious anticipation.
"What form of divination would you like?" he asked.
(End of Chapter)